WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR GOAL WEIGHT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT MY BMI SAYS?

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

I first set me goal weight at 165, because I felt that would be a good weight for me. Then I went down to 150. But me BMI for my height says I should weigh about 135 and I cannot not see myself ever being that small. I am big framed and 5'2", what do you think?

[Foxbins 625]

I like to think of my goal weight as elastic. If I feel good at a higher weight, that's okay. If I keep losing without a lot of effort and still feel good, that's okay too. I had the surgery to be better medically, to be more active, and to feel good about myself. It's not a number in my head that's set in concrete. Can you do something similar?

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

I agree with the above. And you could definitely weigh 135! I've got a big frame with a lot of muscle and I'm at 139 lbs right now - and I'm 3 inches taller than you.

[Roseib 13]

My doctor said at support group it would be good to aim for a bmi under 30. That people who have been carrying extra weight for years tend to have sturdier bones and the "right" weight for such a person can be higher than the ideal bmi or ideal actuarial weight. But he did say aim for under bmi 30.

[mandems mom 3]

I am not big-boned (think I'm considered small boned) but feel that 165 would be the absolute lowest I would go even though that keeps me in the "overweight" category for my 5'8 height. About 2 years ago, I got down to 190 with my lap band and I kept saying I still had another 25-30 pounds to go. Surprisingly, my friends and family felt that I already looking skinny and would look skeletal if I lost that much more. That might have been because they were used to me at 300+, but I don't want to look like I'm starving. I want to look and be healthy.

[brazcan 37]

I have a large frame and I used to weight 125. I am 5'2" and I set my final goal at 125 with probably the last 5 being Tummy Tuck to remove excess skin. I do set mini goals to keep me motivated. I think 150 is still overweight for your height and that you can certainly get to 135.

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

I like to think of my goal weight as elastic. If I feel good at a higher weight, that's okay. If I keep losing without a lot of effort and still feel good, that's okay too. I had the surgery to be better medically, to be more active, and to feel good about myself. It's not a number in my head that's set in concrete. Can you do something similar?

That sounds good to me! Thanks

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

I agree with the above. And you could definitely weigh 135! I've got a big frame with a lot of muscle and I'm at 139 lbs right now - and I'm 3 inches taller than you.

Yea, but my starting weight was 283. But you look great! Thanks

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

G

My doctor said at support group it would be good to aim for a bmi under 30. That people who have been carrying extra weight for years tend to have sturdier bones and the "right" weight for such a person can be higher than the ideal bmi or ideal actuarial weight. But he did say aim for under bmi 30.

Thats good advice also, thanks!

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

I am not big-boned (think I'm considered small boned) but feel that 165 would be the absolute lowest I would go even though that keeps me in the "overweight" category for my 5'8 height. About 2 years ago, I got down to 190 with my lap band and I kept saying I still had another 25-30 pounds to go. Surprisingly, my friends and family felt that I already looking skinny and would look skeletal if I lost that much more. That might have been because they were used to me at 300+, but I don't want to look like I'm starving. I want to look and be healthy.

Oh, you'll be hearing it regardless! My boyfriend starting singing to the "you're too skinny, don't lose any more!" tune around 165 lbs - just a few pounds under the "obese" range for me. My mother said I look amazing and shouldn't lose another pound when she first saw me post-surgery at 150 (just when I hit the overweight/normal weight cut-off). I sent her my photos at 140 and she once again said I look great and shouldn't lose any more. I'm sure if I lost 5 lbs more, she'd say the exact same thing! I think when you have a lot of extra weight on you, you don't really realize the sheer amount of fat you are carrying, and other people have a hard time picturing you at an average size. I couldn't really imagine going below 150, either, but now I can see that I could theoretically even get to 130 and not look bony, although I don't necessarily want to go down that low.

[coops 1,790]

You've had a lot of good advise here...

I have two goal weights in mind; my surgeons is my first... he wants me to lose 84lb. That get me to a higher BMI but under the 30 marker, so still 'overweight'. My second goal is my ultimate goal of 102lb that will get me to a BMI of 24.9 and a weight of 136. I am 5 2 also.

However, in saying that I am currently 179lb and I feel great! I am starting to 'feel' that I look better and I certainly have more energy and a fitter body than Ihave had in years.

The moral of the story is that the figures we are given are good as motivators but what matters most, to me anyway, is how I feel...

not sure if this helps...lol

Good luck and let us know what you decide =]

[Tiffykins 673]

I'm 5'2, and considered large framed as well. My goal weight was 150lbs, and I surpassed it and at one point dropped all the way down to 119lbs. I purposely gained up and bounce on the scale on any given week between 125-130lbs, and that had me in a size 2, XS-Small tops, and while I was happy at 150lbs, being at 125lbs felt really comfortable.

I did hear "you're too skinny", "please don't lose anymore" etc etc when I hit 160-175lbs, but my body wasn't settled. I do not look gaunt or sickly at 125lbs by any stretch of the imagination, and weight and fat will redistribute even after you hit a stabilized weight. My body shape has changed, and I'm sure I could lose more inches if I worked out more, and built more muscle.

At 5'2" BMI chart has our "ideal/healthy" weight at 118-126lbs, and I was at the top end of "healthy" at 5'2". Body fat % is a far better gauge of health than BMI charts which are heavily skewed.

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

You've had a lot of good advise here...

I have two goal weights in mind; my surgeons is my first... he wants me to lose 84lb. That get me to a higher BMI but under the 30 marker, so still 'overweight'. My second goal is my ultimate goal of 102lb that will get me to a BMI of 24.9 and a weight of 136. I am 5 2 also.

However, in saying that I am currently 179lb and I feel great! I am starting to 'feel' that I look better and I certainly have more energy and a fitter body than Ihave had in years.

The moral of the story is that the figures we are given are good as motivators but what matters most, to me anyway, is how I feel...

not sure if this helps...lol

Good luck and let us know what you decide =]

This helps, weighing 230 now, I feel good but really looking forward to wonderland now! I guess the more I loose I will figure this all out! When I look at the girls on the biggest looser they are about 160ish and I say they look great! I will share as i continue to loose.

[Godsfavoraintfair 3]

Thanks to everyone for your advice and support!

[MeMeMEEE 206]

I am 4'11'' and my height says I should be 99-124. I was 130 at one time for a year and that felt right and put me in 8-10's. I can't imagine myself smaller.